Hatchet job! Fall River has an ax to grind with opening of Lizzie museum in Salem

Deborah Allard

Thursday

Jul 31, 2008 at 12:01 AMJul 31, 2008 at 2:29 PM

Lizzie Borden, though she likely never traveled to Salem in her lifetime, will become the latest demon in the witch capital’s kitschy cauldron.

There’s a certain proprietary comfort in knowing that the pilgrims belong to Plymouth, Paul Revere to Boston, the witches to Salem and Lizzie Borden to Fall River.
But Fall River is finding out that no one ever guaranteed those relationships were exclusive.

Lizzie Borden, though she likely never traveled to Salem in her lifetime, will become the latest demon in the witch capital’s kitschy cauldron.

A Salem businessman, Leonard Pickel, who has dabbled in the city’s dark amusement industry for a decade or more and is editor of Webzine Haunted Attraction, will open a “museum” Monday, on the 116th anniversary of the infamous Borden ax murders that claimed the lives of Andrew Borden and his second wife, Abby.

But, Pickel’s in a pickle already with critics who say Lizzie belongs to Fall River and has no business in Salem.

Pickel, who is calling his new business The True Story of Lizzie Borden, said he’s received mail from Fall River residents who are upset about his plans, and calls from people in Salem asking what Lizzie has to do with Salem.

Pickel’s reply is simple.

“I’m not sure who Lizzie Borden belongs to, but we’re going to do more for Lizzie Borden than has been done in a hundred years,” Pickel said. “We’re not trying to steal anything.”

He said Fall River, namely the Fall River Historical Society, has had more than a century to capitalize on the Lizzie Borden name, and though he doesn’t think it’s the society’s duty, he said no one should be upset about his venture.

Michael Martins, curator of the Fall River Historical Society, chose not to take sides in the debate. He said only that Pickel requested certain files on Lizzie Borden from the society and that the Board of Directors will discuss it at its next meeting.

The Historical Society is the caretaker of actual Borden memorabilia, including Abby Borden’s hairpiece and the blood-spotted coverlet that was on the bed the day she was murdered.

Pickel said he initially considered opening a museum in Fall River, but chose Salem instead.

“Aren’t the witches enough? Can’t we have Lizzie Borden?,” said Jules Ryckebusch, a retired professor of Bristol Community College and author of “Proceedings,” on the Lizzie Borden conference in 1992, and numerous other articles.

Ryckebusch said he didn’t think the new venue would “hurt nor help” the attractions in Fall River, such as the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, the actual site of the murders at 92 Second St.

Donald Woods, owner of the Lizzie Borden Bed & Breakfast, said Pickel’s venture — The True Story of Lizzie Borden — is not a museum and shouldn’t be called such because there are “no artifacts.” He also said Pickel may be infringing on the B&B’s museum trademark.

“We are pursuing all of our legal avenues to protect the Lizzie Borden museum trademark,” Woods said. Furthermore, “Calling it ‘The True Story’ is a bit of a slap in our face.”

The truth about Lizzie Borden, he said, can only be found in Fall River.

Arthur Motta, executive director of the Bristol County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau said: “There’s no disputing that there’s no connection to Lizzie Borden and Salem.”

Yet, there may be a remote connection, albeit several degrees separated: a statue in Salem of Elizabeth Montgomery as character Samantha Stephens on the sitcom “Bewitched.” Montgomery also played Lizzie Borden in a 1975 made-for-TV movie.

Motta said the new venue, if it lasts, “will only drive serious visitors to Fall River. This can only help the actual historic sites.”

He said he’d like to work with the local tourism office in Salem to promote the Fall River sites.

Pickel said he thought his new venue would be “good for Fall River. Many people come to Salem looking for dark history. We’ll introduce Lizzie to a new generation.”

Salem sees some 600,000 visitors a year in its bewitching city, many of them visiting to learn about the famous witch trials, and to have some offbeat fun, especially around Halloween.

“The pie is big enough for everyone,” Pickel said.

Pickel said The True Story of Lizzie Borden, to be located in the heart of Salem at 203 Essex St., will have a “CSI Fall River” theme. He said the museum will focus on the case evidence and trial of Lizzie Borden, and will be a serious museum that will not make a mockery of Lizzie, who was acquitted in the murders of her father and stepmother. No one else was ever tried in the double homicide.

Fall River Mayor Robert Correia, vacationing this week, e-mailed a statement to The Herald News about Lizzie going to Salem.

“The infamous story of Lizzie Borden is one unique to Fall River,” Correia wrote. “But, it’s encouraging to see the legend live on outside of our city borders. I encourage anyone who wants a closer look to come and visit the place where it all began.”

Stefani Koorey, publisher of the quarterly journal The Hatchet, thought the new Salem venue was a good idea.

“The world is huge, and this just goes to show you how fascinating the Lizzie Borden case is to people from all over,” Koorey said. “I mean, I am from Florida and I got hooked on the mystery. Most of the people who subscribe to The Hatchet are from somewhere other than Fall River.”

Paul Fletcher, a Bristol Community College professor who works the Borden case into his criminal literature course, found the news of a Lizzie museum in Salem fascinating.

“Any tie-in with Lizzie is kind of interesting,” Fletcher said, “The poor old girl. I’d be interested to see what they’re going to do with it.”

E-mail Deborah Allard at dallard@heraldnews.com

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